Pakistan–United States skirmishes

{{infobox military conflict

| conflict = Pakistan-United States skirmishes

| image =

| caption =

| date = 10 June 2008 – 4 July 2012
({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=6|day1=10|year1=2008|month2=7|day2=4|year2=2012}})

| place = Durand Line, Western Pakistan, Afghanistan-Pakistan Border

| territory =

| combatants_header =

| combatant1 = {{flagu|United States|1960}}
{{Flagicon|Afghanistan|2004}} Afghanistan

| combatant2 = {{flag|Pakistan}}

| combatant3 =

| commander1 = {{flagicon|US}} Barack Obama
{{flagicon|United States}} George W. Bush
{{flagicon|US}} Leon Panetta
{{flagicon|US}} David Petraeus
{{flagicon|US}} John R. Allen
{{flagicon|US}} Mike Mullen
{{flagicon|US}} Tommy Franks
{{flagicon|USA}} Stanley A. McChrystal
{{Flagicon|Afghanistan|2004}} Hamid Karzai

| commander2 = {{flagicon|PAK}} Yousaf Raza Gillani
{{flagicon|PAK}} Asif Ali Zardari
{{flagicon|PAK}} Hina Rabbani Khar
{{flagicon|PAK}} Ashfaq Pervez Kiani
{{flagicon|PAK}} Shamim Wynne
{{flagicon|PAK}} Nouman Bashir
{{flagicon|PAK}} Rao Suleman
{{flagicon|PAK}} Masood Aslam

| commander3 =

| units1 = ISAF Coalition Forces
USAF Afghan Command
U.S. Forces–Afghanistan
NATO Afghanistan Mission
CST Afghan Command

| units2 = Western Command

| units3 =

| strength1 =

| strength2 =

| strength3 =

| casualties1 = Unknown

| casualties2 = 55

| casualties3 =

| notes =

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Pakistan–United States skirmishes}}

| image_size = 250px

| result = See Aftermath

}}

The border skirmishes between the United States and Pakistan were the military engagements and confrontations between Pakistan and the United States that took place along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border from late 2008 to late 2012 resulting in the deaths of 55 Pakistani personnel with a unknown number of U.S. casualties. These incidents involved the U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Command and ISAF forces, who had been present in Afghanistan fighting Taliban and al-Qaeda insurgency, and the unified Western military command of the Pakistan Armed Forces against one another in a series of skirmishes that ceased shortly after the 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan. The two sides ultimately made peace and continued collaboration operations against insurgent groups in Pakistan following an official, but brief, apology from then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on 3 July 2012 over the loss of life suffered by the Pakistani military.

Background

{{Main|Pakistan–United States relations#Relations after the Cold war: 1998-1999|l1=Pakistan–United States since 1991}}

{{further|CIA activities in Pakistan|Drone attacks in Pakistan|Pakistan's role in the War on Terror}}

Since the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism in late 2001 and the subsequent U.S. invasion of Afghanistan to oust the Taliban and al-Qaeda movement, the U.S. has launched several air strikes across into northwest Pakistan to target militants connected with the Afghanistan war who it alleges have fled the country and sought temporary shelter in Pakistan's bordering tribal areas. These strikes have been protested against by Pakistan, as a violation of national sovereignty, and have resulted in tense diplomatic relations between the two countries. They have also caused an uproar among Pakistan's civilian population and politicians and have fueled anti-American sentiments. Since June 2004,{{cite web |url=http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/drones |title=The Year of the Drone An Analysis of U.S. Drone Strikes in Pakistan, 2004–2010 |publisher=Counterterrorism.newamerica.net |accessdate=27 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830213657/http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/drones |archivedate=30 August 2011 }} the United States military has launched dozens of unmanned aerial vehicle strikes against presumed Taliban targets, killing hundreds of militants and civilians, increasing in intensity post-2009. These drone strikes have been subject to heavy criticism from Pakistan, which maintains that they are not the best way to fight terror and that they will have the inevitable result of uniting the tribesmen along the border with Taliban and against the U.S.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Pakistan had previously coordinated with the U.S. on missile strikes. However after the U.S. began conducting strikes without informing Pakistani authorities,[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122157191948543051 Pakistan Issues Threat Over U.S. Incursions] – Wall street Journal, 17 September 2008 Pakistan ordered its troops to counteract. Several specific actions developed, although no serious diplomatic spats on either side have been reported yet. The actions are listed below.

Incidents

=Gora Prai incident=

On 10 June 2008, 10 Pakistani paramilitary troops from the Frontier Corps and a Pakistan Army major, were killed by a US airstrike in Pakistani tribal areas. The airstrike occurred following clashes between Taliban fighters and Afghan troops. Afghan troops ordered an airstrike against the Taliban which, according to the US, accidentally hit a Pakistani post.

{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/id/50178/|title = News Listing}}

=Standoff of 15 September 2008=

Pakistani troops fired warning shots into the air to deter Afghan troops from entering Pakistan. It occurred on the Afghan side of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border close to Angoor Ada, some 30 kilometers from Wana, the main town in South Waziristan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan.

Seven US helicopter gunships and two troop-carrying Chinook helicopters landed on the Afghan side of the border, in the Afghan province of Paktika, where US troops then tried to cross the border into Pakistan. As they did so, Pakistani paramilitary soldiers at a checkpoint began firing shots and the US troops decided not to continue forward. The firing reportedly lasted for several hours. Local tribesmen also evacuated their homes and took up defensive positions in the mountains after placing women and children out of harm's way.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7396366.stm Pakistans soldiers 'confronts US' ] -BBC News, 15 September 2008

The standoff occurred less than two weeks after 3 September 2008 Angoor Ada raid, during which U.S. Special Forces conducted a raid inside Pakistani territory. That incident caused much consternation and protests in Pakistan, over the violation of Pakistan's sovereignty.{{fact|date=December 2022}}

=Lowara Madi incident=

File:AH-64 Apache.jpg

On 21 September 2008 at 10 pm local time, in the Ghulam Khan district of North Waziristan Pakistani soldiers fired on two American helicopter gunships, that entered Pakistani airspace, with 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. The helicopters stopped and hovered for a while, before returning over the border to Afghanistan without retaliation. It is unknown if any of the helicopters sustained any damage in this first incident.[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jqhY55584EVVKxIIbOeHrLWeoPvA Pakistani troops twice repel US choppers: officials] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925091314/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jqhY55584EVVKxIIbOeHrLWeoPvA |date=2008-09-25 }} AFP, 23 September 2008[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7628890.stm Pakistan troops 'repel US raid'] -BBC News, 22 September 2008

Thirty minutes later, two gunships attempted to cross the border again at the same place. Pakistani regular and Frontier Corps troops fired warning shots into the air and away from the helicopters, causing the helicopters to turn back without attacking any targets in Pakistan.[http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Pak-troops-fire-at-US-helicopters-in-N-Waziristan/364409/ Pak troops fire at US helicopters in N Waziristan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707220644/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Pak-troops-fire-at-US-helicopters-in-N-Waziristan/364409/ |date=2009-07-07 }} – ExpressIndia.com, 22 September 2008

=Tanai incident=

On 25 September 2008 Pakistani troops fired on two American OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopters; U.S. ground troops, who the helicopters were supporting, returned fire. No one was injured on either side and the helicopters were undamaged. American and NATO officials asserted that the helicopters were flying within Afghan territory to protect an armed patrol. Pakistani officials declared that the helicopters were inside Pakistani territory and were fired upon by "flares" as a warning.{{cite news |last=Schmitt |first=Eric |title=Pakistani and American Troops Exchange Fire |work=The New York Times |date=2008-09-25 |accessdate=2008-09-25 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/world/asia/26military.html?hp}}

=Kurram incident=

On 30 September 2010. U.S. helicopters entered Pakistani airspace after ground troops determined that a mortar attack by militants in Pakistan was imminent, according to the Coalition. Pakistani Frontier Corps troops manning the Mandata Kadaho border post fired warning shots, and the helicopters responded by firing two missiles that destroyed the post. Three soldiers were killed and another three wounded. Pakistan responded by closing a key NATO supply route for eleven days.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/30/AR2010093000145.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Karin | last=Brulliard | title=Pakistan blocks NATO's Afghan-bound supply trucks after airstrike kills 3 | date=30 September 2010}}

=Datta Khel incident=

On May 17, 2011, a skirmish between a U.S. helicopter and Pakistani forces took place in the Datta Khel area. According to NATO, an American base along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border took direct and indirect fire from Pakistan. Two U.S. helicopters flew into the area. According to the Pakistani military, the helicopters had breached its airspace. Pakistani forces fired at a helicopter twice, and the helicopter returned fire, injuring two soldiers. Pakistan reportedly deployed two attack helicopters, which arrived after the U.S. helicopters had left.{{cite news|last1=Raddatz|first1=Martha|last2=Schifrin|first2=Nick|last3=Ferran|first3=Lee|date=17 May 2011|title=U.S. Helicopter, Pakistani Military Exchange Fire at Border|work=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-helicopter-pakistani-military-exchange-fire-border/story?id=13621329|access-date=23 September 2020}}

=Salala incident=

thumb

On 26 November 2011, 28 Pakistani soldiers,{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/26/pakistan-halts-nato-supplies-attack | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Jasmine | last=Coleman | title=Pakistan halts Nato supplies after attack leaves soldiers dead | date=26 November 2011}} including 2 officers,{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/pakistan-cuts-nato-supply-lines-after-unprovoked-attack-141140.html|title=Pakistan cuts NATO supply lines after 'unprovoked' attack|date=26 November 2011|work=Firstpost|accessdate=18 May 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=27328&title=Pakistan-protest-Nato-attack-on-check-post |title=Pakistan protest NATO attack on check post |publisher=Thenews.com.pk |date= |accessdate=2011-12-17}}{{cite web |url=http://radio.gov.pk/newsdetail-12599 |title=Radio Pakistan-At least twenty-five security officials including two officers were martyred when the NATO helicop |publisher=Radio.gov.pk |accessdate=2011-12-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426002531/http://radio.gov.pk/newsdetail-12599 |archivedate=2012-04-26 }} were killed and the remainder injured in an attack on two Pakistani border posts in Mohmand tribal region by NATO Apache helicopters, an AC-130 gunship and fighter jets.{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/nato-attack-fallout-pakistan-tells-us-to-vacate-airbase-153214 |title=NATO attack fallout: Pakistan tells US to vacate airbase |publisher=Ndtv.com |date=2011-11-26 |accessdate=2011-12-17}} There were a total of 40 soldiers present in the check post and the raid took place at night while most of them were sleeping or resting.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15901363|title=Pakistan outrage after 'Nato attack kills soldiers'|work=BBC News|date=26 November 2011|accessdate=18 May 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/297979/nato-jets-attack-checkpost-on-pak-afghan-border/|title=24 soldiers killed in NATO attack on Pakistan checkpost|work=Express Tribune|date=26 November 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/26/nato-air-attack-pakistan-soldiers|title=Nato air attack on Pakistani troops was self-defence, says senior western official|author=Jon Boone|work=the Guardian|date=27 November 2011|accessdate=18 May 2016}} The attack was the deadliest strike to date on Pakistani soil by NATO.[http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16118154 Pakistan Deaths: US Offers Condolences] Pakistan claimed that there was no militant activity along the Afghan border region when NATO conducted the attack.{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/26/world/asia/pakistan-nato-attack/index.html | work=CNN | title=Pakistan to review relations with U.S., NATO, ISAF in wake of attack - CNN.com | date=27 November 2011}} Pakistan immediately suspended all NATO supplies to Afghanistan in the aftermath of the attack.{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/297991/pakistan-blocks-afghanistan-nato-supplies-after-checkpost-attack/|title=Pakistan blocks Afghanistan NATO supplies after checkpost attack|work=Express Tribune|date=26 November 2011|accessdate=26 November 2011}} Pakistan later also ordered the U.S. to completely shut down operations and vacate the Shamsi Airfield in Balochistan, which the U.S. reportedly uses for launching drone attacks in Pakistan, within a time frame of 15 days, the NATO claimed responsibility for the attack.{{cite news| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57331576/pakistan-orders-u.s-to-shut-major-down-air-base/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127225251/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57331576/pakistan-orders-u.s-to-shut-major-down-air-base/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=27 November 2011 | work=CBS News | title=Pakistan orders U.S. to shut major down air base}}

Aftermath

Skirmishes between the United States and Pakistan concluded after Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State, apologized for the death of Pakistani personnel from the 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan.{{Cite web |last=Peralta |first=Eyder |date=July 3, 2012 |title=After Apology, Pakistan Agrees To Reopen Military Supply Line, Says Clinton |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/07/03/156199759/after-apology-pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-military-supply-line-into-afghanistan |website=National Public Radio}} Subsequently, Pakistan agreed to reopen NATO supply routes to Afghanistan.